Secret diary of Maximilian Thorn aged 14 3/4

(follows on from Secret Diary of Maximilian Thorn aged 13 3/4)
Woke up and thought 'My mum loves me' (actually I think that when I wake up every morning). I opened my mouth to bark and call her down so she could love me some more, but then an unmistakable scent hit me smack in the vomeronasal organ. The delectable Nina is in season! So, I'm afraid I have to admit I forgot all about mum temporarily while I had a good sniff and lick round her bed. She didn't look best pleased; that must just be cos I'd woken her up early. Must try and keep on the right side of her and maybe this time it will be my chance [oh no it won't; Ed]. Upshot was I was taken completely by surprise when mum came into the room as I was facing the other way. Either she was remarkably quiet or my hearing's not all it was. Can't be that, though, cos I'm perfect. I expect I was just concentrating on sex at the time - we entire boys do that quite a lot, you know.

Anyway, for some reason my breakfast didn't seem as appealing as usual. Later on, mum took us all for a walk in the field. My sophisticated, cool image does take a knock at walkies time. I just can't help getting excited. Some people are surprised that I can still run, especially as my legs don't seem to co-ordinate as well as they used to, but if you were looking at the image of the delectable Nina's delectable bottom disappearing in the distance, so would you. Unfortunately, so does the Brat, but he knows better than to challenge me. If he tries, he gets to spend another half hour pinned against the wall having his neck groomed. (Nobody can say I don't know how to be the dominant male.) I was jogging happily down the hill, when I fell down a rabbit hole. My back leg was stuck so I called Mum and she got me out. To be honest, I fall down that rabbit hole almost every day. I always mean to remember it's there, but with a delectable arse just ahead - well, it goes out of my head completely.

Raw beef for dinner this evening. A particular fave, but I felt it would be good tactics to leave some as I know from past experience that, as Nina's season goes on, sausages will appear on the menu more and more often, but only if I start leaving other food. You know, sometimes my sheer intelligence impresses even me. After dinner I spent a happy half hour barking at Nina, just so's she doesn't forget I'm ready and waiting at the appropriate moment. I'm sure I heard mum say that I wouldn't be able to do that sex thing any more cos of my back leg - little does she know is all I can say.

Now what shall I do next - bark a bit more, cock my leg indoors, groom the Brat or have a little snooze. So many choices...

Update

Oh dear, long gap again and just when things were interesting too. Nina had her last litter of pups on 13 January. She whelped easily and quickly - so quickly she nearly caught me out - and had 6 pups, which was lovely as the vet had only seen 3-4 concepti in the scan. Four girls and two boys; the Ballet Litter. Nina and I both loved the subsequent 8 weeks and somehow I seemed to find it more tiring than she did! The pups went to their new homes in early March. One (Kiki) lives nearby and I will hopefully show her.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year everyone. I had a great NY Eve with some neighbours. Stayed up till about 3; unheard-of for us country mice. Skipped the show I'd entered NY Day (was I mad or what to enter that?). My excuse was that a friend was staying over after the party and I could hardly kick her out at 8am. Still, we went to a show on 2nd and my lovely Satchmo got Best of Breed against a strong field and then went on to come 3rd in the Working Group. Nancy Evans of Amazon Dobes was kind enough to say she thought he should have won the group. Shame I spoilt it by leaving my bag of show kit there. The Secretary has taken it home and she lives 1.5 hrs drive from me. Damn.

Christmas in our house

There were only 5 of us plus the 3 dogs - age 7 to 87 very neatly - but it felt manic. Great time, actually, and Antony and I make a good team in the kitchen. Dogs were pretty good, although I suspect that was mainly because we made sure there was no food left in Satchmo's reach. Maxie developed a penchant for Quality Street - wrapper and all. They went down in one, so there can't possibly have been any flavour. Nonetheless, he still clenched his teeth tight when I tried to get a toffee penny back out. I had visions of it coming out the other end unmarked. If I really hated someone, I could perhaps have washed it an offered it to them. Fortunately, I don't hate anyone. By the time we were back on our own on Boxing Day evening, we were all crashed. As you can see...

Pregnant ladies

Some of you may remember that, last time she was preggie, Nina had a thing about eating compost and dug almost all the summer plants out of my garden tubs. This time, whilst not actually averse to a bit of compost, she's fonder of wood. She's demolished the tub that one of my clematis has been in for years, and she keeps taking logs off the fireside pile and ripping them up on the rug. Needless to say, this is only ever done when I've just finished vacuuming. (Of course, I say 'she', but we all know Satchmo will be joining in enthusiastically, don't we?)

Puppies!

Yes, she's pregnant. A litter of 3-4, due 17 January. Already got several people interested, which is a nice position to be in. Nina was scanned Weds; whilst waiting in the vet's reception I realised she had a real gash on her shoulder, so she had a scan and 7 staples in one go (needless to say, only 5 left now). These days they give you a printout of the scan. The embryos are about 2 inches long so far.

Puppies?

Usual hormone hell for the last couple of weeks while Nina has been in season. Good in one way as it meant Max was really keen to go round the garden 20 times a day sniffing where she's weed. Nasty habit except when it keeps an old dog mobile.

I had to spend 2 nights sleeping on the breakfast room table as the only way to keep Max quiet.

Then, last Tuesday, I took Nina to Jay Horgan's in Staffs to visit Bracco her boyf (Nina's, not Jay's) and the usual deed was done. I took her back Thursday to be on the safe side, but nothing doing. She sat in the back of the car and curled her lip at him.

Fingers crossed. Due on 17 Jan if she's preggie. Bracco has never stopped still long enough for me to get a really good look before, but this time I did and, goodness, Satchmo has his Daddy's head.